Bushing for barrels.



UNITED STATES union.

FRANK C. SCHOENTHALER, JR., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

eusHlNG FOR BARRELS.

SPECIFICATION forming' part of Letters latent No.'723,553, dat'ed March24, 1903. Application filed February 6, 1902. Serial No. 92,813. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be 1't known that I, FRANK C. ScHoENTHA- LER, Jr., a citizen of theUnited States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bushingsfor Barrels, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class ofbush ings which are adapted to beused for barrels containing liquids-such as ale, beer, and the like-andto the particular constructionof bushing which partakes of the functionof both bush' and faucet, so that it can be used economically andefficiently to draw the liquid out of the barrel, as will more fullyhereinafter appear.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a simple,economical, and eflicient bushing for beer-barrels.

Other objects of the invention Will appear from an examination of thedrawings and the following description and claims.

The invention consists principally in the combination of a bushingprovided with a central axial opening for the insertion of adischarging-tube, a ring inserted in such axial opening and providedwith an air-supply 'pas- Sage, and means for holding the parts inoperative position.

The invention consists, fu rther, in the combination of a bushingprovided with an axial stepped passage, a' removable ring provided withan air-passage restingin such axial passage, and sci'ew mechanism forholding the parts in operative position.

The invention consists, f urther, in the combination of a bushingprovided with an axialstepped passage for the insertion of adischarging-tube, the bottom having a smooth bore and the upper a,larger threaded bore, a

removable ring provided with an upwardlyland outwardly extending stemcontaining ani air-passage, a cushioning sealing-ring, anda screw'-nutfor holding the parts in operative position. f

The invention. consists, further and finally, in the features,combinations, and details of construction hereinafter described andclaimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is' a Vertical sectionalelevation of a bushing in position in connection with the Walls of a Ithe air-tube in cross-section on line 4of Fig. 3.

In the art to which this invention relates it is well known thatmanufacturers of beer kegs and barrels providethe same With a metallicbushing into which the ordinary plug may be driven to seal the barreland 'that in use'this plug must be-removed and a faucet or similarelement for the withdrawal of liquid substituted in place thereof. It isalso well known that the manufacture of the bush and faucet plugs isvery expensive in that they are made iu two separate and independentparts containing a number of pieces, so that the combined cost of allthese pieces when made in large quantities amounts to a large sum. Further, it is sometimes very difficult and annoying to place thefaucetplug in operative position in that it projects considerably beyondthe package, which renders it liable to injury and disturbance.

Myinvention therefore is intended, primarily, to remove the above-notedobjections by providing a bushing which is, in effect, acompound bushand faucet-that is, one compact niechanismvwhich accomplishes thefunctions, advantages, and results of a bushingand faucet plug,dispensi'ng largely with the annoyance attendant on the use oftheordinary bush and bung. It willalso be noticed that the mechanism'isvery compact and does not in any way project to materially affect thehandling .of the package, and tinally that it is simple in construction,economical to manufacture, and efficient in operation, all of which willmore fully hereinafter appear.

In constructing a bushingin accordance with these improvements I providea bushing portion a, screw-threaded on 'its outer periphery,

as at b,- and having an upper annular'shoulder or flange portion c,thewhole adapted to :be screW-threaded into engagement with the Walls dof a beer-barrel or similar element, as shown particularly inFig. 1.

The bushing is provided with a central axially-disposed stepped openinghaving a pas- Sage c, as shown in Fig. 1, of two diameters, the

IOO

lower diameter being a smooth bore and terminating in the tubularprojection fat the lower end of the bushing, while the upper and largerdiameter of this axial bore is screw-threaded, as at g, the end at ornear a shoulder h intermediate the smooth and threaded bores.

It is desirable to provide means by which the liquid maybe withdrawnfrom the package. T o accomplish this` result, a discharge tube or pipet' is provided and passed through the axial opening of the bushing. Inorder to hold this in place, screw mechanism is provided, consisting ofa rubber or cushioning washerj and a ring-nutk. The ring-nut engages thethreaded bore of the bushing, forces the cushioning-washer downwardly,spreading itat the same time, so as to firmly clasp thedischarging-tubc, hold itin position, and seal the opening against thedischarge of liquid. It. is also desirable to supply air under pressureto the package, so as to force the liquid out through the discharge-tube. To accomplish this, I provide a removable ring l, which is arrangedin the stepped axiai opening and against the shoulder thereof, the lowerportion of which is preferably provided with a sealing-seat m, similarto a valve-seat, to form a Seal between the ring and the shoulder, suchseat being preferably formed of rubber. This ring has forxned integraltherewith and extending outwardly and upwardly therefrom an L-shapedtubular projection n, havingr an air-passage 0 eX- tending through suchportion and ending at theinnerboreofthering,whichinnerboreis ofslightly-larger diameter than the dischargetube, so that air may enterthe space between the ring and the discharge-tube, and thence throughthe passage e under the package to be used whenever desirable ornecessary for the forcing out of the liquid. The upper part of thisair-passage is provided with a nipple p, which contains a threadedplug'pro- Vided with a check-Valve q, formed of a flattened rubber tube,which permits the introduction of air under pressure, but prevents it orany liquid from` escaping. It is desirable that this ring, with itsair-tube, should be prevented from rotating in order to economize space.To accomplish this result, one portion of the Walls of the bushing isslotted or grooved, as at r, so vas to permit the airtube to entertherein and act to hold it firmly in position against rotation. Thering-nut should be slotted, as at s, so that a proper wrench may be usedto place it in position or remove it therefrom. The bushing should alsohave a second slot 25 opposite the groove 'r, so that a wrench couldalso be used successfully here for the insertion or removal of thebushing, it being understood, of course, that the bush is put inposition after the barrel is made and that :it is oftentimes necessaryto remove it therefrom for purposes of repair and renewal.

In operation the bushing is supplied by the manufacturer and a cork orplug driven in the passage e, which prevents any liquid from escaping.The ring, With its air-tube, is removed, so that as no air can passthrough the walls of the bushing there is no danger of any liquidescaping. The user is supplied with one of these rings and air-tnbes,which he can use With any number of barrels, and as this ring and tubeare only in place when the harrel is used it will be seen that thepackage can be handled without any disagreeable effects to the hands orannoyance to the operator. i

I claiml. In mechanisms of the class described,the combination of abushing provided with an axial opening adapted to receive afluid-discharging tube and having an opening therethrough between thedischarge-tube and the peripheryof the bushing, a removable ringinserted entirely within such bushing held against rotation and providedwith an airinlet passage extending therethrough, and means for holdingthe ring and other parts in position, substantially as described.

2. In mechanisms of the class described,the combination of a bushingprovided with an axial stepped opening adapted to receive adischarging-tube,an inwardly-extending annular shoulder formed by thewall of such stepped opening, a ring resting against the shoulder ofsuch stepped opening and held against rotation and provided with anairpassage extending therethrough, and a ringnut engaging with thebushing for holding the parts in operative position, snbstantially asdescribed.

8. In mechanisms of the class described,the combination of a threadedbushing provided with a stepped axial opening adapted to receive adischarging-tube, the lower part of such opening being a lsmooth boreand the upper part a larger internal-threaded bore, a ring provided Withan outwardly or upwardly extending tube containing an air-passageextending therethrough arranged to rest against the shoulder in suchbushing and be prevented from rotation, a cushioned washer restingagainst such ring, and a ring-nut engaging the threaded bore of thebushing for holding the parts in position, substantially as described.

4. In mechanisms of the class described,the combination of a-threadedbushing provided with a stepped'axial opening adapted to receive adischarging-tube, the lower part of which is a smooth bore and' theupper part a larger internal-threaded bore, the Walls of such steppedpassage forming an annular shonlder, a removable ring in such steppedopening provided with an air-tube and pas- Sage and resting against theshoulder of the axial passage, a cushioned Washer resting against suchring, and a ring-nut in the threaded bore of such bushing to hold theparts in position, substantially as described. 5. In mechanisms of theclass described, the

IIO

combination of a threaded bushing provided with an aXial steppedopening, the lower part of which is a smooth bore and the upper part alarger internal-threaded bore and provided with a radial groove, a loosering removably heldin position in such passage and provided with anupwardly-extending airtube arranged in the radial groove of the bushingby which it is held against rotation and provided with an air-passageextending therethrough, a cushioned washer resting against the removablering, and a ring-n ut engaging the threaded bore of the bushing t-o holdthe parts in position, substantially as described.

6; In mechanisms of the class described, the combination of a threadedbushing provided with an axial stepped bore, the lower part of which isa smooth bore and the upper parta relatively larger internal-threadedbore containing a radial groove, a removable ring provided with asealing-seat resting against the shoulder of the axial bore, anupwardly-extending air-tube resting in the radial groove `of the bushingby which it is held against rotation and containing an air-passageextending therethrough and through the ring, a cushioned Washer restingagainst the removable ring, a ring-nut engaging the threaded bore of thebushing contacting the cushioned Washer to hold the parts in position,and a check-valve in the air-tube, substantially as described.

7. In mechanism of the class described, the combination of a bushingprovided With an axial opening adapted to receive a dischargetube andprovided with a radial groove in the inner walls of such bushing forforming an inlet-passage, a removable ring mounted in such bushing andprovided with an air-passage extending therethrough and having anoutwardly-extending arm provided with an air-inlet passage therethroughcommunicating with the air-passage in the ring and exltending outthrough the radial groove in the bushing, and means for holding theparts in operative position, substantially as described.

8. In mechanisms of the class described, the combination of a bushingprovided with an axial opening, a fiuid-discharge pipe extendingtherethrough, a removable ring provided with an outwardly-extending tubehaving an air-inlet passage extending through it and such tube such ringbeing arranged entirely within the axial opening of such bushing andintermediate it and the discharging-tube, and means for sealing andholding the removable ring and fluid-discharge pipe in position,substantially as described. g

9. In mechanisms of the class described, the combination of a bushingprovided With an axial opening, a fluid-discharging pipe therein, aremovable ring provided With an outwardly-extending tube having anair-inlet passage extending through it and said tube such ring beingarranged entirely Within the axial opening of such bushing andintermediate it and the fluid-d'ischarging tube, a cushioning-washer forsealing and holding such fiuid-discharging pipe and removable ring inposition, and means for compressing said washer to operatively hold theparts in position, substantially as described.

FRANK O. SOHOENTIIALER, JR. Witnesses:

THOMAS F. SHERIDAN, HARRY IRWIN OROMER.

